F 
315 



THE C3-R.E.A.T 



OF 1874. 

ITS EXTENT, DURATION AND EFFECTS. 




A CIRCULAR FROM 



m:a.yor ^w^iltz. 



OF NEW ORLEANS, 



MAYORS OF AMERICAN CITIES & TOWNS 

AND TO THK I'HILAXTIIIJOPIC THROUtiHOllT TH K 
RKPITBUC, IN HKHALF OF 

SEVENTY THOUSAND SUFFERERS 

IN LOUISIANA ALONE. 



NEW ORLEANS: 
PICATrXE STEAM- BOOK A.VD JOB PRINT, (ifi CAM!' STJJEET. 




Glass. 
Book. 



T^JJl 



V\i 7fc 



THE GREAT 



MISSISSIPPI FLOOD 



OF 1874. 



ITS EXTENT, DURATIOI^ AND EEEECTS. 



A CIRCULAR FROM 



MAYOR ¥ILTZ, OF NE¥ ORLEAIS, 



MATOES OF AMEEICAN CITIES AND TOWNS, 



And to tijk philanthropic throughoct the 

REPUBLIC, IN behalf OF 

SEVENTY THOUSAND SUFFERERS 

iin" louisiai^a alone. 



I ^m I 



NEW ORLEANS: 

PICAYUNE STEAM BOOK AND JOB PRINT, 66 CAMP STREET. 

i8'r4. 



Yd'' 



MAYORALTY OF NEW ORLEANS. 

NEW ORLEANS, May 30th, 1874. 

On tlie 25th instant, the kind favor of the Western Union Telegraph 
Company enabled me to send to the Mayors of thirty-four large American 
cities the following dispatch : 

" By request of Relief Committee and leading citizens, I again call on 
American cites in behalf of fifty-four thousand victims of the great flood, 
for such aid as your prosperity may permit or your philanthropy prompt 
you to grant. Contributions in cash and provisions in thirty-five days 
have been less than one hundred and eighty thousand dollars. In fifteen 
days our means will be exhausted. The demand for relief will continue 
great and urgent for many weeks. Daily rations have been distributed to 
about forty-five thousau<l — eight thousand furnished by the Government. 
Painful anxiety as to the results is general. 

"Nothing but large increase of resources for relief can prevent the 
horrors of famine and great loss of life. We need a million of dollars more. 
Details will be given by mail. 

LOUIS A. WILTZ, 
Mayor and Treasurer of Relief Fund." 

To give the information promised, to extend the appeal to many 
other cities and to towns and corporate institutions, to enlist the aid of 
philantrojihic journalists and to lay before the members of the national 
legislature a statement of facts for their guidance, I issue this circular, 
with the hojie that the great and increasing distress and danger in which 
the inhabitants of the overflowed regions now are may thus be made more 
widely known and the situation better understood. 

The Mississippi River in average high water from Memphis to the 
Gulf is confined by artificial banks or levees to a channel, varyinir from 
half a mile to a mile in width. But for these erabaukm(>nts the unparal- 
leled Hood of this year would have formed, for all this distance, a contin- 
uous lake, covering the whole alluvial country, from tweuty-flve miles to 
one hundred and seventy-five miles in width, and more than six 
hundred miles long. But in spite of these levees, considerably more than 
one-half of this area has been submerged. The levees could not withstand 
the Mississippi in its mighty and ruthless violence, and they gave way 
in numerous crevasses, varying from one hundred to five thousand feet in 
width, aggregating fully six miles. Through these great chasms tlie 
flood has been pouring since the 15th April, in a stream seven feet in 
average depth and at the rate of more than seven miles an hour. More 
water is even now flowing from the great river over the farms and ])lanta- 
tions of Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana, than fdls over Niagara. This 
outflow must continue until the river recedes below its natural banks au 
indefinite period. In some years high water has lasted a long time. In 



1858 the river remained at its maxiniuni 87 days and in 1859 at Vicksbui'o;, 
129 days. The flood of 1874, is higher than either, or tlian any on record. 

The A'ast area of the overflow is estimated as follows by Wm. J. McCul- 
loh, Esq. : formerly and for many years United States Surveyor General 
for Louisiana, a practical engineer and especially familiar with the inun- 
dated districts. 

" I estimate the area submerged by crevasses, and overflow by high 
and back water, to be in Louisiana about 8,085,000 acres, or 12,600 siiuare 
miles. It is impossible, in many places, to define the line of separation be- 
tween the crevasse and overflow water — the former soon reaching the flat 
land mingles with the latter. 

" This overflow^ extends over all, or nearly all of each of the following 
parishes : Carroll, Madison, Tensas, Concordia, Avoyelles, Point Coupee, 
West Bato7i Rouge, Iberville, St. Martin, larger part of New Iberia and 
of St. Mary, Terrebonne, larger iiart of Lafourche, Ascension, St. Charles, 
St. John Baptiste, Jefl'erson, St. Bernard, part of PLuiuemine, Morehouse, 
Kichland, Catahoula, Franklin, Caldwell, Ouachita, and St. Landry. 

" "Were it not for the levees, the whole of the lands west of the Mis- 
sissippi river, Avith a belt say of 35 miles from the Arkansas line to Red 
River— those west of the Atchafalaya, with a breadth of 15 miles from 
Red River to the C4ulf— all from Red River to the Gulf west of the Mis- 
8is.si])pl river and east of the Atchafalaya — and all east of the river from 
Baton Rouge to the sea — these including a large part of the cotton region 
and very nearly all of the section cultivated in rice and sugar, and em- 
bracing the city of New Orleans, would he nnnuaUy submei-ffed, being about 
one sixth of the area of the State, and the most ftM-tile and valuable part 
of it. 

" In Mississippi the submerged district is about 2,500,000 acres, and 
with the exception of a narrow depth of high land fronting the Mississippi 
river, has an average width of about 30 miles, and a length of 130 miles, 
stretching from Alcorn's landing, in Coahuma county, to Vicksburg, being 
iTi that county; in Bolivar, Sunflower, Washington, Isa(i[uena and Warren 
counties, and comprising what is known as the Yazoo and Mississippi 
Delta, bounded on the east by the Yazoo river, and the highlands, about 
15 miles east of the Sunflower river, in the very heart of the richest cotton 
region of that State. 

" In Arkansas the overflow from opposite to Memphis to Helena (about 
100 miles dii'cct) has an average width of 40 miles, being all of the county 
of Crittenden, i)art of St. Francis and of Phillii>ps ; and from Helena to 
tiie Louisiana line, has an average width of 30 miles, being part of Arkan- 
sas and Desha (;ounties, and all of Chicot. In the interior, it covers part 
of Ouachita, Calhoun, and Union Counties, bordering on the Ouachita 
river, an<l has (m either side of the VVliit(>. and Arkansas rivers a width of 
20 miles. As nearly as I can estimate, the overflowed portion of Arkansas 

would be about 2,000,000 acres." 

W. J. McCULLOH. 



Ill Loiiisian.l 8,065,000 

In Mississippi ...2,500,000 

In Arkansas 2,000,000 

12,565,000 acres. 

The inundation, beginning two months ago, reached enormous and 
alarming proportions by April 16th, continued spreading until May 15th, 
and only began to show signs of receding about May 20th. Several weeks 
must pass before the now submerged lands become tillable, perhaps 
one-third by June 20th, one-third more by the 10th July, the remainder in 
some indelinite time longer and too late for any crop this year. 

As to the condition in which the subsiding tiood will leave the suf- 
ferers, I quote from a recent published letter of the Hon. J. M. Sandidge, 
of our Ivelief Committee, who hears or reads the appeals of the distressed 
and whii is well acquainted Avitli the overflowed region and the situation 
of the inhabitants. 

The few mules, horses and cattle preserved from the ilood will be 
unfit for any immediate service, and nnist continue to live, if they live at 
all, upon the leaves, moss and cane tops, until such time as the grass can 
grow again. ^ 

The people, with nothing now, will have no more when the water 
subsides, and cannot have until the land can be made to yield its fruits. 
How arc they to be fed and su])]>orted until such time ? 

Death by famine on the dry, but barren ground, would be quite as 
terrible as to have been swallowed up in the waters ! 

The Relief Committee see and understand all this, and it is a source 
of the most sickening anxiety to know that they will be impotent to avert 
what seems inevitable. The people, as rapidly as possible, and under 
whatever circumstances, hardships and sacrifices, muHt begin qnickly to 
make arrangements for themselves by engaging, for food and raiment 
alone, to work, wherever work on such terms can l)e had ; and if not to 
be had in their ])resent neighborhoods, to seek it in more distant places, 
if able to reach them. It is true that a great part of the most helpless 
and destitute woiild be, by such policy, left where they are, to live upon 
public charities, or perish in the swamps. 

Nothing less than $1,000,000 in snj)plies will enable these people to 
re-commence and continue to labor where they are, until the earliest 
products of the soil can give subsistence, and if not sustained to that 
extent who shall say what crimes may not be committed, if crime it could be 
called, in the desperaticni of these starving thousands, thrown ujion com- 
munities, now barely self-supporting 1 This is a gloomy ])ictnre truly, 
but it is beet always to look dangers straight in the face, and see them in 
their full proportions, if they are to be averted However generons the 
people of the country, and of the cities and towns might be, adequate 
relief from such quarters, could not be depended on ; there can be no 
sufficient aid extended, except through the bounty of the General Gov- 
ernment. 

The contributions in money to our relief fund amount to about, one 
hnndred and fifty thousand dollars. Donations in provisions from Wes- 
tern cities received before May 29tli were, 585 ban-els of flour, 218 sacks 
flour, 54 barrels crackers, I'.i half-barrels crackers, 239 barrels meal, 41 
boxes crackers, 79 barrels pork, 74,6:J1 pounds bacon, 2;? barrels beef, 76 
barrels beans, 41 barrels potatoes, together with a shipment from Lcxing- 



6 

tou, Keutucky, of 25 barrels ilour, 29 barrels of meal, 900 pounds bacon, 
14 sacks of potatoes, 2 barrels sugar, 2 bales and 1 box merchandize, 2 
boxes shoes, 1 box clothing. The list of donations includes many valuable 
articles not above given, consisting of garden seeds, cotton seed, seed 
corn, clothing, ifcc. f^xtensive shipments of provisions have also been 
announced from Cincinnati, making the total value of donations for relief, 
not cash, about thirty-five thousand dollars. 

Up to May 22nd, there had been received fiom the U. S. Commissary, 
608 barrels pork, 1864 barrels army bread, 112 barrels beans, 658 barrels 
meal, and 87,092 pounds bacon. From this source are obtained 8000 
daily rations, which will be continued until June 15th, or longer. 
Our total shipments to May 29th, were : 

1,767 barrels pork 471,200 rations. 

271,132 ijounds bacon 361,509 " 

7,512 barrels meal 1.201,920 " 

3,782 " crackers 321,470 " 

922 " flour 163,194 " 

279 " beans 418,500 " 

59 " seed potatoes — 175 sacks of salt. 
470 sacks cotton seed — 700 sacks seed corn. 
19 cases garden seeds — 16 cases drugs and sundries. 

Our committee have been shipping supplies thirty days, ending May 
29th, averaging 56,219 rations daily which have subsisted at least 70.000 
people, the local agents, of distribution having been instructed to reduce 
their per capita issues. With tins economy we cannot continue relief to 
the above numbers Avith only our present resources beyond the 15th of 
June. 

Be not deceived by the falls which may take place in the Mississippi, 
and be reported from time to time. The waters of the overflow do not 
drain ofl" by the river's channel nor return to it, btit flow to the Gulf of 
Mexico along the great lake above described. The cultivated lands in 
the Ouachita and Atchafalaya valleys or basins are from Ave to fifteen 
feet below the level of the natural banks of Jhe Mississippi. When the 
river has fallen ten feet the corresponding fall of the flood waters is not 
ten inches. The great inunthition will subside not faster than one or two 
inches each day, uncovering the laud by degrees so slow and tedious as to 
A\eary tlie hopes and sicken tlie liearts of the owners and tillers of tlie 
soil. 

I have given and described, as nearly as reasonable limits will permit, 
the cause, the nature, tlie extent, the con.sequences anj^lthc probable dura- 
tion of the flood. I will let this statement have what ettect it may upon 
the moral sense, the philanthropy and the magnanimity of the American 
people. I could give details and iiu'idents, a few out of thousands of the 
same nature tluit would jirodnce emotions of pity and horror. Such is not 
my purpose. I show you what is need' d to prevent intense misery, 
famine and death ; I lenve the rest to your honor as men, to your pride as 
Americans and to your sense ol' duty a« Christians. While there are ducli 



fruits of prosperity and such stores of accumulated riches, you 
cannot afford to let it be recorded in our common history that thousands 
of people in 1874 starved to death on the borders of the Mississippi, 
for the ■want of one fifty thousandth part of tlie aggregate wealtli of their 
countrymen. 

I append an interesting letter of Hon. Henry G. Crowell, Commis- 
sioner of Relief from Boston, for further information and in testimony of 
the faithful, systematic, vigorous and effectual operations of our Com- 
mittees of Eelief. 

LOUIS A. WILTZ, Mayor, 

Chairman of General Relief Committee and Treasurer of Relief Fund. 



LETTER OF HON. HENRY G. CROWELL, \ 
New Orleans, May 16th, 1874. J 

Hon. Louis A. Wiltz, Mayor : 

Dear Sir — I arrived here on the 11th instant, bearing credentials as 
Commissioner of the Mayor of Boston and of the Boston Committee in 
charge of subscriptions for the relief of sufferers in Louisiana by the 
flood. I came for the purpose of ascertaining what further assistance the 
citizens of Boston can render towards alleviating the necessities of the 
suffering, and restoring your ancient prosperity. I was immediately put 
in communication with the members of the General Committee of Relief, 
appointed by you, with those of the several subsidiary committees, and 
■with many intelligent citizens, from whom and from eminent professional 
engineers I made diligent enquiry as to the area of the country overflowed, 
the number of people made destitute by this stupendous calamity, the ex- 
tent of damage to crops and live stock, the probable continuance of the 
inundation, the nature and amount of relief absolutely necessary to 
prevent loss of life by famine, and as to the plan of relief adopted here. 

I am grieved to find the overflow to be wider in extent, more disas- 
trous in effect, and causing distress and destitution to far greater extent 
than represented by you in your first appeal for aid from the chief cities 
of the Union— greater thau is generally believed and greater than can be 
conceived of by those not familiar with the nature of the vast flat alluvial 
region which the waters of the Mississippi and its lower branches now 
cover. The calamity surpasses in extent and ruinous consequences any 
that has occurred from tire, storm or flood on this continent during the 
current century. 

To see for myself the nature of the great inundation, I went to 
Brashear, eighty miles west of New Orleans — the last twenty-three miles 
through an unbroken flood which pours from the distant crevasses on the 
Mississijipi, and devastates an immense region. I«shallnot here relate 
what I saw, but it was sufficient to give me a realizing sense of the mag- 
nitude and destructiveness of the great flood, and of the reasons why the 
suffering, destitution and danger caused by it, must continue for a long 
time. 



8 

I have made careful examination of the workings of your committees 
of relief, which I am pleased to find composed of citizens of high character 
and distinguished ability, who labor zealously and constantly in the noble 
work to which you have called them. Their method of purchasing and 
forwarding supplies, and their rules and regulations for the distribution 
of relief met my approval in all respects. By the system adopted the.do- 
nations of the charitable are sure to do the most good to those who are 
made destitute by the flood. Wise precaution is taken to avoid the 
encouragement of idleness by strictly witholding relief from such as find 
work on lands not overflowed, and who refuse to labor ; a precaution 
which I commend and approve. Careful, systematic economy is employed 
in all relief measures. 

At their request and yours, I have examined your accounts as Treas- 
urer of the relief fund and the accounts and vouchers of the committees, 
finding all correct and in order. By a well organized system everything 
received is jiroperly accounted for and promptly applied. I am pleased 
to say that you and the members of your committees have shown much 
executive and administrative ability, and that the disposition of contri- 
butions has been so careful and so judicious as to merit entire confidence. 

You have done and, I am sure, will continue co do all that can be 
done for the suft'erers with the means which the philantropic put in your 
haiuls. I can suggest no improvement in your method. 

I cannot close without advising you to renew your appeal for help. 
Your resources for the required relief are altogether insufficient. Put 
before the people of America the leading facts relating to this unprece- 
dented and enormous visitation of calamity. A true knowledge of the 
great danger and suffering of your afflicted people will awaken wealthy 
and prosperous States, cities, churches and associations to an active sense 
of their duty. While there is such prosperity and abundance of means 
everywhere else, these poor victims of the flood must not be left to starve. 

Please accept for yourself, and extend to all others whom I have met 
here, my thanks for the very many courtesies and kind attentions which 
I have received at your hands and theirs. 

Hoping to visit you under more prosperous auspices, I remain 
Yours very respectfully, 

HENRY G. CROWELL. 



